Mechanism lock for motor cars



April 14, 1931. A. M. CRAIG 1,800,678

MECHANISM LOCK FOR MOTOR CARS Filed Dec. l0, 1926 EMM Patented Apr. 14,1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALVIN M. CRAIG, OF NEW HAVEN,CONNECTICUT, ASSIG-NOR TO 'UNIVERSAL GEAR r i SHIFT CORPORATION, ACORPORATION F DELAWARE MECHANISM LOCK FOR lVIO'JJOIIt CARS Applicationled December 10,` 1926. Serial No. 153,796.

My invention relates to improvements in locks for the purpose ofpreventing the theft or unauthorized use of motor cars. My invention isintended to produce a simple locking arrangement which will secure thecontrolling mechanism of a motor car so that if the car is started in anattempt to steal or use it unlawfully, the driver will have no controlof the car. The invention is intended further to construct, arrange anddispose the lock so that if it is smashed in an attempt to steal thecar, the breaking of the lock will disrupt the control mechanism so asto render the car unmanageable. The invention is peculiarly adapted foruse in connection with a pneumatic gear shift such as shown in my priorapplication, Serial No. 107,592, iled May 8, 1926, and for locking thecontrol of the pneumatic mechanism against use, and more particularlyfor locking the controlling lever or handle in neutral position. Theinvention is not limited to this use, but is best adapted for use inconnection with a gear shift of the kind referred to. The invention isalso intended to positively lock the controlling handle not only lagainst operative movement but against movement of any kind, so as tohold it rigid. The advantage'of the structure and disposition of thelock will appear more clearly from the following description.

Reference is to be had to-the accompanying .Y

drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similarreference characters.

indicate corresponding parts in alltho views.

Figure 1 is a broken sectional plan of my improved lock as applied to apneumatic gear shift control.

5 the clamp 11 for securing it to the steering Figure 2 is a brokenvertical section on` rod of a car, and this bracket is shown assupporting a quadrant 12 over which moves the control lever 13 adaptedto be positioned at various points on the quadrant to control the valve,which in turn controls the operation Of the gear shift.

As shown the handle 13 has a. substantial hub 14 journaled in thebracket 10 `and connected to a valve rod 15 which controls the`pneumatic valve 16. This is shown in a general way to illustrate theparticular adaptation-of my lock, and it shows a valve memderstood thatvalves controlled by the rod n,

15 when turned by the handle 13 canbe made to control other operatingmechanism of a car without aiecting the invention.

My improved lock is intended to secure and a means for fastening thebracket to a steering` rod, the handle and its connections can bedisposed immediately `beneath the that if an attempt were :made to smashthe lock and its connection with the rod 15, it

would disrupt, break, or disturb therod 15., or `the bracket 10, or` thesteering rod `with which it connects, so as to render the carunlnanageable and therei'ore incapable of unauthorized driving.4 y

As a convenientmeans of obtaining this.

result I recess the bracket 10 ,as shown 211525` and locate alock 26 inthe recess. The lock itself can be of any approved type. I have shownone of the well known barrel type operated by a key 27 and having a bolt28.

disposed so as to enter a hole 29 in the hub 14 of the handle 13. Ipreferably arrange the hole so that when it is turned into position toregister with the bolt 28, the handle 13 will be in neutral position andthe quadrant and the valve 16 will also be in neutral lo the handle 13against movement, and it will, be noticed that by providing a bracket 10y steering wheel of a car. rllhis makes it didicult of access for thepurpose of breaking the lock, and also makes 1t practically certainposition.V Byoperating the key 27 or its equivalent,V the handle can bereadily locked or unlocked as shovvn. f

It will be seen that this construction lis 5 exceedingly simple, andprovides for locating theloclrinthe advantageous position de-r scribed,Yanjdfit- 'Willi .of course-be understood that the mechanism controlledVby the handle might be different from the pneumatic'V valve 10referred; to'fwitholl, Y afle(zt-ing ;tjlie,nvllfnA l. The combinationwith the steering rod .of a car and a valve controlling:'theepneu maticgear shift of the car., said valve being 15 located below the bracket;of a 'handle hav! ing its Vhub TJ-,Ollrnalledand concealed in thevbrachen', said hub being connected tothe valve stein rod oftheaforesaid valve, and a lool;

I having its body enclosed in a recess ofthe :29 bracketand providedWitha, bolt which en.-

' ters a recess in the huboffthehandlei 2.- T l 1ecombinationfwithfthesteering rod of a carand ya pneumatic gear shift.convtri'jlling` valve, of a bracketdiaving means 35 vfor attachment tothe steering rod, ahandle p' journaled` in. the bracketfand connected totheyalve .stemmed of the valve, and alock .recessed. in the bracketV tolocl the journal of the handletherein. l v 123,0 3. VThe combination ofa bracket, aquad-y rantassociated, therewith,` a handle journaled in thebracket Vandi rnovaloleY over the major portionV ofthe length .of .thequadrant, re-

f trievableVV means associated withA said q uad- I lrant normallylpositioned tobring-said lian'-VV -dle to `apositive'st oprat a certainintermediate position, and-paillocl( recessed: in said f bracket to lockthe `journal of the handle VVthereinysaid lock being operative onlyWhenfv fofsad handle is in theposition ,delinedvby 4 faforesaidpositivestop; n Y i 4, The vcombination-of ia bracket, a qnadfY rantassociated therewith, a handlexjournaled inthe bracket and movableover themajor s45 portion of the length of thel quadrant, ineansassociated Witlirsaid quadrant to bring said handle to a positive stopata ,certain p osif tion, intermediate theeXtreme limits ofits i'movement, and alocl; recessed' in said bracket (-1.550 to".lockthezjournal ofthe handletherein,'f said'lock being operative onlywhen said handlefis inthe position defined aforesaid j positive stop. YY f Y Y n Intestirnony whereof, Ifhave signed my F255 nameto thisAspecication' this 8th; lday of Y DembenJlQZG.'

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